Cine Lens Review with Test Footage - What do you think?

I think you could argue that - but, to me, as a forum it has more history. It's also non-model specific which makes it a bit better than 'DVX100user' or something with 5D in it (like the other site Planet5D or software that's similar to Cinema5D like Cinema 4D).
 
Doug Jensen said:
What about this very forum? DVXuser. Doesn't "DVX" refer to Panasonic cameras? Is anyone here shooting on Panasonic, let alone a model with "DVX" in the name?
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Yes. Among other things. Namely Arri and Sony, too. But the Sony has kind of slid into third place, with the Arri now taking the lions share of the large sensor work and the Panasonics(VariCams) still doing almost all of the live and ENG duties. Kind of warmed my heart last week, when we were shooting a multi-cam live show for a network client and the director comes on comms and says, "God, those cameras look good", referring to our Vari's.
 
I bought a Varicam LT in 2021 when I had the opportunity to pay it off and then some on a series (the showrunner specifically mandated Varicams on previous season). It's still a very good camera so I have no real reason to sell it at this point. Shot a short with it a few months back and it did not disappoint. Probably 1/2 of the series I've shot since 2016 have been on Varicams.
 
It's good to hear those cameras are still earning their keep. Good ROI. But my point is that on a forum that was originally targeted to Panasonic owners, Panasonic is barely ever mentioned anymore -- just as other forums (and cable channels!!!) have drifted far from what their name would imply.
 
CharlesPapert said:
I bought a Varicam LT in 2021 when I had the opportunity to pay it off and then some on a series (the showrunner specifically mandated Varicams on previous season). It's still a very good camera so I have no real reason to sell it at this point. Shot a short with it a few months back and it did not disappoint. Probably 1/2 of the series I've shot since 2016 have been on Varicams.
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It kind of disappointed me that the 3rd gen Vari’s(V35, LT, HS, Pure) never caught on in my world like the first two(27 & 2700). It may have been only one or two years after release, one of my reps was darn near trying to give me a V35 demo unit(maybe 25%of new price), but no one I shot for was using it. And the same thing when they were almost giving away the LT’s. I’ve only shot on a 3rd gen(V35) on a real shoot once, for a Netflix stand-up special. But I’m still regularly using my 2700(s) that were released in 2008(!). I’m actually doing a three cam shoot that my buddy has tomorrow, with my two and his. I said it’s gonna feel like the OLD days. I asked him when was the last time that we shot a multi-cam network sit-down with ENG cameras and not in 24p.

Yeah, I’m not sure what the used market is like on the LT’s, but if it’s anything resembling the 2700’s, hang on to it, especially if it’s just even semi-regularly in use. Funny enough, I think 2016 was the last year that I shot on my tape Vari. Lol. And continuing to spiral away from the original topic of this thread, I remember when we were all worried and said that we’d never get the longevity out of these new cameras and formats like we did Beta. I think the longest I got out of a single Betcam(my last one) was about nine years(half of it intermittent, because of HD). I got 10 out of my tape Vari, I’m 11+ on my P2 Vari and over seven on my F55.
 
Doug Jensen said:
It's good to hear those cameras are still earning their keep. Good ROI. But my point is that on a forum that was originally targeted to Panasonic owners, Panasonic is barely ever mentioned anymore -- just as other forums (and cable channels!!!) have drifted far from what their name would imply.
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Oh yeah, I knew what you meant. I just can’t pass up an opportunity to say that my old 2/3” ENG cams are kicking and still relevant.
 
Revolving back to the OP and my moan about the missing wide I would note that a 2/3 camera with 4.5mm-xx lens is exactly a 16mm s35 or 24mm fullfram..or wider. And directors know that only this format will deliver the quick sequences of introducing wide, basic mid and ECU.

Hense the continued popularity I would guess.
 
Lenses are one of the greatest attributes of the 2/3" format. A 13x/14x W/A can get you through the majority of what you need to do. I have a 22x(most are around 7.8 or 7.6) for long lens duty, but my 13x4.5's are on the cams most of the time. And most broadcast series lenses have built-in optical 2x extenders, standard, too.

The speed, ease and efficiency with which you can work with these cameras has been lost to the younger generation(s) in this industry.

According to Abel's FoV calculator, in s35, the 4.5mm equivalent would actually be ~11.5mm(~2.5x crop factor). ~17mm "FF"(~3.8x crop factor).
 
Run&Gun said:
According to Abel's FoV calculator, in s35, the 4.5mm equivalent would actually be ~11.5mm(~2.5x crop factor). ~17mm "FF"(~3.8x crop factor).
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Yeah, Sam's numbers are off.

2/3" 13x4.5mm = 11 to 295mm for S35
2/3" 18x5.5mm = 14 to 500mm for S35
2/3" 24x7.8mm = 20 to 935mm for S35

All at f/1.8 with super smooth servo zoom control.
Double all those focal lengths instantly by flipping the lever to engage the built-in 2x
Mounted on the Sony Z750 you get all that and still have S-LOG3 4K 10-bit 4:2:2 @ 60 fps
 
I picked up either the 31mm or the 25mm to test out of the SLR Magic lenses. I think they have their place, but SLR magic made a few mistakes that make them hard to recommend. The microprime APO's are a cheaper version of the hyperprime APO's. The focus ring on the microprimes are quite hard to turn and are likely to shift in an ef mount and probably won't work with the cheaper remote follow focus motors. Almost every review states that the 25mm does not color match with the rest of the set. I have seen multiple reports of some of the lenses having loose helicals so that the lens elements will shift when the focus directions change. The 25mm does not actually cover full frame despite not showing obvious vignetting. When light flares in the lens, you can see the lens barrel reflected in a way isn't the most pleasing. Also, SLR magic has never come through with a wider or more telephoto lens and I think the problem is that they can't pull off an APO design in those focal lengths with the same form factor. That's just my guess based on a few comments I have seen. Otherwise, the lenses have a very nice image with limited chromatic aberration and a nice falloff just like they promise. They also have an easy interchangeable PL/EF mount system which could be a huge draw and is why I tested them.

I would actually like to test out a series of the hyperprimes because I think those may have better mechanics and construction. But, that series seems to have been EOL'd so there isn't any hope of more focal lengths. Also, it would seem that Dulens is doing the same basic style of lenses and may be a better bet.
 
I have an 18mm f/2.8 SLR Magic Lens that I bought about a year ago when B&H had a flash sale. I love how heavy and solid if feels. Kinda retro after handling so many plastic lenses. I love the look and think it is a nice little lens. Is there some slight vgnetting. Yeah, but ti adds to the look I want for stills. Shortly after I got it decided I really wanted AF so I got a 20mm Sony. Now the SLR Magic just sits on the shelf, but I love the look and feel of it.
 
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